How Do Crises Spread? The Polycrisis and Crisis Transmission

Malte Brosig examines the conditions under which crises may transmit across systems, presenting a conceptual analysis that draws on a diverse set of theoretical frameworks, including neofunctionalism, rational choice, complexity theory, assemblage theory, and epidemiology. He argues that crisis transmission is not automatic but may be shaped by factors such as stressor similarity, functional interdependencies, system fragility, and large-scale disruptive events. Brosig emphasizes that understanding how crises cross boundaries is essential to conceptualizing the polycrisis. He also explores the role of resilience and crisis management as counterforces to transmission, underscoring the value of interdisciplinary approaches in anticipating and mitigating cascading global risks.